Inclusion of Transgender Persons

A. BACKGROUND:

Following the Department of Education’s Dear Colleague letter of May 13, 2016, there
is a need to identify and codify the college’s practices regarding the inclusion of
transgender persons.

B. POLICY STATEMENT:

All persons whose gender identity or expression does not correspond with their assigned
biological sex at birth are included in the college’s non-discrimination policy. All
students can expect a prompt and effective response to sex-based harassment including
bullying and/or harassment based on a student’s actual or perceived gender identity
or expression.

Transgender persons may use the public bathrooms or locker rooms consistent with their
gender identity or expression. Transgender persons may participate in sex-segregated
activities at the college in accordance with their gender identity or expression.
Eligibility for participation in varsity athletic sports are regulated by the National
Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). For details regarding NJCAA eligibility
rules, please contact the Athletics Department.

Transgender persons can expect privacy from the institution regarding their transgender
status. Legal name and gender changes can be submitted at any Enrollment Services
counter with the proper documentation. Additionally, any person may submit a request
to Enrollment Services that their preferred name be used on CCRI ID cards and class
rosters.

C. DEFINITIONS:

(Provided by the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Alliance and recommended by the Rhode
Island Department of Education)

The terms below are designed to provide a basic understanding of words, phrases and
ideas related to gender. It’s important to note that all language is constantly evolving;
new terms are introduced, while others fade from use or change their meaning over
time.

Gender:A set of cultural identities, expressions and roles – codified as feminine or masculine
– that are assigned to people based upon the interpretation of their bodies, and more
specifically, their sexual and reproductive anatomy. Since gender is a social construction,
it is possible to reject or modify the gender one is assigned at birth, and to develop,
live and express a gender that feels truer and just to oneself.

Gender identity:A personal conception of oneself as male, female, both, neither and/or another gender.
Gender identity can be the same as or different from the gender a person is assigned
at birth. Gender identity is a matter of self-identification; no one can tell anyone
else how to identify or what terms to use. Gender identity is different from sexual
orientation, and everyone has both a gender identity and a sexual orientation.

Transgender:An umbrella term describing people whose gender identity does not match the gender
they were assigned at birth.

Gender binary:A socially constructed system of viewing gender as consisting solely of two categories,
“male” and “female,” in which no other possibilities for gender are believed to exist.
The gender binary is a restrictive and inaccurate way to view gender because it does
not take into account the diversity of gender identities and gender expressions among
all people. The gender binary is oppressive to anyone that does not conform to dominant
societal gender norms.

Gender expression:The multiple ways (e.g., behaviors, dress) in which a person may choose to communicate
gender to oneself and/or to others.

D. POLICY APPLIES TO:

All students and visitors to the college.

E. RELATED POLICIES:

Bathroom and Locker Room Usage Policy.

F. RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT:

The Office of Institutional Equity is responsible for implementing and maintaining
this policy.